A Study of Critiques and the Theory of Structuralism in Articles of the Literary Criticism and Sulaymaniyah University Journals

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Ph. D. Student of Persian language and literature, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran

2 Associate Professor of Persian Language and Literature, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Department of English Language and Literature, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran

Abstract

Abstract
In Iran, as well as in Iraqi Kurdistan, the critique of literary texts using ‘literary theories’ has grown in recent years. The present study investigates published articles in ‘Literary Criticism’ and ‘Sulaimaniyah University’ journals. The research method in this article is criticizing the critiques. The aim was to answer two questions: Why has this kind of critique and theory taken up so much volume? How have researchers applied this theory? The volume of the articles includes 188 Persian and 76 Kurdish articles. After discarding 46 Persian and 29 Kurdish articles in terms of the basic structure, the scope was reduced to 142 Persian and 47 Kurdish articles. After analyzing the articles, it was found that the theory of structuralism was used in 47 Persian articles (33.9%) and 15 Kurdish articles (33.09%). The theory had the largest share in the articles compared to the type of critique and other theories. An attempt has been made to apply the critique and theory of structuralism in these articles, to express the differences and correspondence of the type of attitude in Kurdish and Persian articles. The findings of the research are that in the published articles of both journals, this theory is not fully understood and they have a general view that can be one of the reasons for the great application of this theory in published articles. Looking at how this theory is used, it can be said that Kurdish researchers have dealt with this theory more superficially and most of the time there is no analysis of the type of structure in the text. Also, unlike Persian articles, theories such as structuralist mythology, paleontology, structuralist psychology, Bakhtin conversation logic, do not exist in Kurdish articles at all. Another point in the published articles of the two journals is the refusal of researchers to study the sources in the original language or the sources of the first degree of constructivism, which is directly related to the type of application and analysis of texts.

Introduction

The critique of literary texts using ‘literary theories’ has grown in recent years in Iran, as well as in Iraqi Kurdistan. This could be due to a kind of imitation of Europeans and a new definition of criticism, with the influence of Anglo-American cultural and social developments. Because in the West, since the beginning of the twentieth century, turning to literary theories has become very important and many books have been written about it. Every article or literary research needs theoretical support, and every researcher must use one or more literary critiques and theories to advance the work in order to maintain the scientific level of his / her research and its tastelessness.
Literary Criticism Journal is one of the most popular journals in the field of academic literary criticism, which was launched in 2008 and soon became a base for many critics in the field of criticism and theory. Sulaimaniyah University Journal is one of the most prestigious academic journals. Therefore, the present study investigates published articles in ‘Literary Criticism’ and ‘Sulaimaniyah University’ journals.
 

Research Method (Metacriticism, Criticizing Criticisms)

To achieve the purpose of the study, in addition to using Cochran's formula for the statistical analysis, metacriticism was used. In this regard different and close words and terms have been used, such as critiques of criticisms, reading of readings, etc. Metacriticism goes beyond literary criticism and criticizes ideas, rules, and methods of critiques together. In other words, it is a way of generally looking at criticism. Studying the critical discourse of Metacriticism can help to perpetuate the interlocution and dialogue between different critics.
 

Results

3.1.    Data Analysis to Investigate the Amount of Using the Structuralist Theory in The Two Journals
To answer the first research question of the study, after analyzing the articles, it was found that the theory of structuralism was used in 47 Persian articles (33.9%) and 15 Kurdish articles (33.09%). The theory had the largest share in the articles compared to the type of critique and other theories. An attempt has been made to apply the critique and theory of structuralism in these articles, to express the differences and correspondence of the type of attitude in Kurdish and Persian articles.
3.2.   Data Analysis to Answer the Question of How to Apply the Structuralist Theory in The Two Journals
With respect to the second research question of the present study, the authors studied the published articles based on different genres to find out the amount and the application of this theory. The following themes were observed in 142 Persian and 47 Kurdish articles.
A: Classic poetry
B: Contemporary poetry articles
C: Articles that are about classical prose/fiction texts
D: Articles that are written about contemporary or modern prose texts/stories
E: Articles that are written about a film
F: Articles that are about critical texts or critiques of criticism and theory
G: Articles that are about different theories of structuralism with no specific textual analysis.
 

Conclusions

The findings of the present study showed that in the articles of both journals, this theory is not fully understood and they have a general view that can be one of the reasons for the great application of this theory in published articles. Considering how the structuralism theory is used, it can be said that Kurdish researchers have dealt with this theory more superficially and most of the time there is no analysis of the type of structure in the text. Also, unlike Persian articles, theories such as structuralist mythology, paleontology, structuralist psychology, Bakhtin conversation logic, do not exist in Kurdish articles at all. Another point in the published articles of the two journals is the refusal of researchers to study the sources in the original language or the sources of the first degree of constructivism, which is directly related to the type of application and analysis of texts.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Literary Arts
Volume 12, Issue 3 - Serial Number 32
September 2020
Pages 169-190

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